Feature: 2010 Mustang GT/Boss

Bossbreed

Picture this. You walk into your local Ford dealership ready to lay down your loot to order a 2012-2013 Boss 302 Mustang. You’re talking to the salesman and the conversation goes something like this…

Don’t be fooled by its low-key exterior. What might pass as just another GT with upgraded wheels packs all the performance of a Boss 302 and more.

“I’d like to order a Boss 302 with leather seats,” you say.

“Sorry, that option is not available on a Boss,” the salesman replies.

“Well, then I want it with the interior LED lightning package,” you retort.

“Sorry, no can do,” he says

You respond, “What about a glass roof?”

“Have you never been on SVTP?” he asks. “Bosses don’t come with the glass roof option.”

“Well can I at least get the 15-inch Brembo brakes from a 2013-2014 SVT Shelby GT500 Mustang?” you wonder.

Dean Martin loves resurrecting wrecked Mustangs, but when he shocks them back to life he doesn’t just bring them back good as new. He brings them back better. Case it point, this Boss-enhanced GT also gained a GT500 axle-back on its trip back from the other side.

“Son, you’re lucky that Henry lets you have in colors other than black,” he says flatly.

You get the idea. If you wanted a Boss with some of the luxury options found on Premium Mustang then you were pretty much out of luck—until now.

While covering the Belle Isle Grand Prix we had the chance to cruise around in a rather interesting rental car. Racer and Rehagen Racing owner Dean Martin was kind enough to let us hit the streets of Detroit in his intriguing 2010 GT/Boss 302 crossbreed, a Bossbreed if you will.

Once you have driven a high-revving Boss 302, your GT’s 6,250 redline will seem quite pedestrian. Sure you can raise the limiter with a tune, but why not push the limits with a Boss 302 swap? Having driven Dean’s creation, we can’t recommend it highly enough.

You see, Dean has a proclivity for purchasing and rebuilding Mustangs that insurance companies consider total losses. While that is not entirely unique in the pony car world, Dean’s attention-to-detail and preference for doing performance upgrades sets him apart from other rebuilders. He is currently building an extreme sleeper—a grey V6 with a full, SVT 5.8-liter Trinity drivetrain. However, that car wasn’t quite ready for us to test so we “settled” for the Bossbreed.

This Torch Red 2010 Mustang GT Premium seemingly lost its life in the flood waters of Hurricane Sandy, but Martin and the crew at Rehagen weren’t about to let its story end there. From the scene of its drowning death on the East Coast the glassroof GT travelled to Rehagen Racing in Westland, Michigan, where is was disassembled to a bare shell.

If you have dreamed of a fully optioned Boss 302, this GT is a dream come true. In fact, it doesn’t just settle for Boss 302 Recaros. It is top of the line all the way, right down to the GT500-spec leather Recaros.

From there it was thoroughly washed, scrubbed, cleaned, disinfected, and dried. Once the necessary prep work was completed the GT received a full Boss 302 drivetrain and suspension. But the fun doesn’t stop there. The reborn GT also gained a GT500 axle-back system, a Ford Racing shifter, complete 2013-2014 GT500 brakes, and GT500 leather Recaro seats.

Driving the car on the streets of Motor City I really couldn’t tell that the car didn’t leave the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in its current state. Dean and his crew really built a car that feels 100-percent legit. Everything is tight and performs exactly as it should. I’ve driven many Bosses, but never one with a glass roof. That is, until now.

Boss 302s have nice brakes, but if you are really building a dream Boss, you’d choose the 15-inch brakes from the 200-mph-capable 2013-2014 GT500.If any enthusiast were in control of factory options, they would spec out an improved shifter, and that’s just what Dean did. He upgraded the MT-82 with one of Ford Racing’s short-throw units.

For all intents and purposes this car is a Boss 302, with a Premium interior, glass roof, and performance upgrades courtesy of SVT. It’s a combo that works really well together and is a blast to drive. Best of all, the GT is currently for sale. If you happen to be near Westland, you should call up Rehagen Racing and make an appointment to see this jewel. Please do so soon so my fiancé can stop bugging me to buy it…

Yeah, yeah. The Boss 302 was supposed to be all performance, but the glass roof adds less than 40 pounds. For a full-time street car it more than makes up for the extra weight by letting more of the outside world in.